Device and method for securing corrugated sheets



[July 22, 1947.

w. s. MILES DEVICE AND METHOD 'FOR SECURING CORRUGATED SHEETS Filed Oct.31, 1944 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlkI/IJ.

7 INVENTOR V [flu/441 J. Ma's. WW4 k2 ATTORNEY Patented .luly 22, 1947DEVICE AND METHOD FOR sncuame coaauea'mn smears William S. Miles, Hastlngs on Hudson, N. Y., as-

signor to J ohns-Manvllle Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application October 31, 1944, Serial No. 561,261

The instant invention relates to an assembly of covering sheets onsupporting members and, more particularly, to an assembly of this typeand to the means and method for making it, in which the constructioninvolves relatively large, heavy 5 rigid sheets, such as those composedof asbestos and cement in a highly compressed and densified state,supported on flanged purlins.

Such covering sheets, widely employed for roofs and walls, are laid onspaced supporting beams or purlins with their corrugations runningverticalbehind the wall to place the clips-and draw up the bolts.

A principal object of the invention is the elimination of thesedisadvantages through the provision of a means and method wherebyfastener receiving devices or clips maybe placed in' predeterminedpositions and in locking engagement with the purlin prior to theapplication of the covering sheets, and the covering sheets then laidand secured to the clips, the several operations being performed fromone side of the roof or wall in an expeditious and economical manner.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction ofthe above type in which openings are formed for the reception of thefasteners in the Sheets and clips after the covering sheets unnecessary.r

A further object of the invention'is the provision of a securing memberor clip'for use in the a ove assembly, the clip being so constructed asto permit of its use on purlins or beams of various sizes and with thepurlins supported to have their flanges extending either upwardly ordownward- 1y of the roof or wall. I

My invention will be more fully understood and further objects andadvantages thereof will become apparent when reference is made to themore detailed description thereof which is to follow and to theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a partially assembled roof structureembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a securing memberemployed in the construction of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, with parts shown inelevation for clearness of illustration, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view-on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 44 ofFig. 1;

12 Claims. (Cl. 108-33) Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an auxiliarymemher to be employed withthe device of Fig. 2 in a modified arrangementof the supporting members shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view similar toFig. 3, illustrating the modification employing the member of Fig. 5;and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a preferred type of fastener to beemployed in the invention. Referring now to the-drawings, andparticularly to Figs. 14 inclusive, my invention is illustrated asembodied in a roof structure. It will be appreciated, however, that itis equally well adapted for vertical walls, or other structures in whichlarge covering; sheets are carried by spaced supports. In theconstruction shown, corrugated sheets l0, preferably composed of ahighly compressed and densified asbestos-cement composition, aresupported on spaced purlins l2 to form the roof covering. These sheetsare usually reliatively large, say 42 wide and 8' to 12 long, and arepreferably supported adjacent both ends and at one or more intermediatepoints, as shown. The sheets'are laid with their lower ends overlappingthe sheets of the next lower course to provide a shingled effect, andwith one longitudie nal edge overlapping a previously laid sheet of thesame course. Conventionally the covering sheets are secured to thesupporting purlins at their ends and at the point where they cross theintermediate purlin. v

In accordance with the instant invention, the sheets are supported fromthe purlins through theintermediaryof fastener-receiving clips l3comprising a'me'mber I 4 (see Fig. 2) preferably .made' of relatively,light gauge sheet metal, say f of 14 or 16 gauge. are laid, making exactpositioning'of the sheets Member I4 'is stamped or otherwise formed tohave an upwardly bowed or semi-cylindrical body section [6, adapted tonest within'a corrugation of the covering sheet, as shown particularlyin Fig. 4, the longitudinal edges I8 of the body section resting on theflange of purlin I2. Member l4 also includes hooked sections 20projecting from edges [8 andextending downwardly and forwardly to definerecesses 26 and prongs 22, the latter being adapted to engage theunderside of purlin flange 24 when the member is mounted with the edgeof the flange extending within recesses 26, as shown in Fig. 3. Thelongitudinal edges of body section l6, approximately opposite prongs 22,preferably include one or more teeth 28 adapted to 'bite into orfrictionally' engage the upper side of flange 24. Tongues 22 aresuitably originally bent outwardly to some extent, as shown in Fig. 2,tongues 22 and teeth 28 defining therebetweena bite of somewhat lesswidth than the thickness of the normal purlin flange at the point whereit is engaged by the tongues and teeth. Member I is mounted on thepurlin flange and shoved or 60 driven home by relatively light taps of ahammer construction permits the or the like until the edge of the flangeengages the rear of recess 26, tongues 22 and teeth 28 biting into thesurface of the flange sufliciently to prevent disarrangement of themember without the exertion of a substantial force. As the member isdriven into position, tongue 22 yields to the extent necessary toaccommodate the particular flange thickness. As will be appreciated,this clip to be used without modification on flanges of differentthicknesses.

In the more usual situation where the purlins are supported with theirflanges 24 directed upwardly of the roof or wall, member I4 'is usedalone, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4. Where, however, the purlins 'arepositioned with their flanges 24 directed downwardly (see Fig. 6), anadditional member 30 is employed in cooperation with member M. Member 30is stamped or otherwise fabricated of sheet metal or the like of similarcharacter and gauge as member l4, and includes an upwardly bowed orsemi-cylindrical body section 32, dimensioned to telescope or fltpreferably within body section I6. Hooks 34 project from the lower edgesof the body section adjacent one end thereof, the hooks including points36 adapted to bear against the web of the purlin.

In the construction of Fig. 6, either member I or member 32 is firstmounted on the purlin, and the other member then positioned with bodysection 32 within body section IS. The members are then telescopedtogether until they contact the web and'the flangeof the purlinrespectively as illustrated.

Referring again to Fig. 1, clips l3, comprising either member ll aloneor members l4 and 30 in cooperating telescopic relationship, dependingupon whether the purlin flanges extend upwardly or downwardly of theroof, are placed on the purlins at selected points in position to bereceived within the corrugations of the covering sheet.

Suitably a templet or the like may be used to expedite the positioningof the clips. A roof sheet I is then laid to overlie the purlins and tooverlap a sheet of the next lower course, and preferably the adjacentsheet of the same course. As will be understood, clips are mounted onthe lower purlin spanned by the sheet prior to the laying of the sheetof such lower course, whereby these clips will underlie the lappedportion ofthe sheets. When the sheet is in position, holes of a suitablediameter for the reception of self-tapping screws or fasteners aredrilled through the lapping portions and the body portions of the clipson the lower purlin and through the sheetand the body portion of theclips on the intermediate purlin. The openings through the coveringsheet or sheets only are then enlarged by a second drilling operation toincrease their diameter to such an extent as to loosely receivefasteners of the type referred to. Self-tapping screws of a suitabletype, such as illustrated at 40 in Fig, '7, are inserted in the openingsand tightened down, the screws cutting their own threads in the sheetmetal of member ll, or both members I4 and 30, as the case may be. Theenlarged opening in the covering sheets permits the shank of the screwto extend through the sheets without substantial contact. As shown inFig. 7, screw 10 is preferably of a lead-headed type. That is, itincludes a head having a covering, 4| of lead orother suitable,relatively malleable material. As' the head is drawn against the coverinsheet by th turning action, the soft metal is pressed into theirregularities of the covering sheet adjacent the opening, to seal thesame around said flange and engage against the entry of moisture.Alternatively, conventional screw heads may be employed if de-' sired,and sealed with putty or the like, in the manner previously employed inthe art. Screw 40 preferably includes a wrench engaging portion 42projecting above the lead covering.

The construction described fully meets the several objects of theinvention. All operations are performed from the outside of thestructure and with a minimum of labor. The clips lend themselves toadjustment for purlins of various types and dimensions, eliminatingthe'nee of carrying a stock of different sizes or preparing the clipsspecially for individual situations. Although in Fig. 3 member I4 isshown as extendin the full width of the flange, it will be appreciatedthat the clips, when made up of member 14 alone or both members M and30, serve equally as well on wider or narrower flanges. Due to theholding action of tongues 22 and teeth 28 the members are adequatelylocked on the flange against shifting during the application of thecovering sheets.

Having thus described my invention in rather full detail, it will beunderstood that these details need not be strictly adhered to but thatvarious changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilledin the art, all falling within the scope of the invention as defined bythe subjoined claims.

What I claim is: I

l. A clip for fastening a corrugated coverin sheet to a flanged supportcomprising a member including a curved body section with its edgesadapted to rest on the flange of the support and its curved portion toproject into a, corrugation of the covering sheet, and a hooked sectionadapted to extend around said flange and including upwardly directedprongs to engage-beneath said flange, said prongs being adjustable toaccommodate flanges of different thicknesses, the member being formed ofsheet metal of a character to be drilled for the reception of aselftapping screw.

2. A clip for fastening a corrugated covering sheet to a flanged supportcomprising a body member including a semi-cylindrical body sectionadapted to project into a corrugation of the sheet with its edgesresting on the flange of the support. said body section being formed ofa sheet metal of a character to be drilled for the reception of aself-tapping screw, a hooked section adapted to extend around saidflange and including upwardly directed prongs to engage beneath saidflange, and teeth on the edges of said body section substantiallyopposite to said prongs.

3. A clip for fastening a covering sheet to a flanged support comprisinga member including a crowned body section to rest on the flange of thesupport and a hooked section to extend the lower side thereof, and asecond member for telescopic engagement with said first member andhaving means for engaging said support on the opposite side from saidflange.

4. A clip for fastening a covering sheet to a flanged support comprisinga member including a crowned body section to rest on the flange of thesupport and a hooked section to extend around'said flange and engage thelower side thereof, and a second member for telescopic engagement withsaid first member and having means for engaging said support on theopposite side from said flange, said members being made of sheet metalof a character to receive and hold a self -tapping screw.

her for telescopic lapping engagement with said first member and havingmeans forengaging said support on the opposite side from the flange,said members being of sheet metal of a character to receive and hold aself-tapping screw driven through the lapping portions thereof.

6. A clip for fastening a corrugated covering through said coveringsheet gagement with said body section at a point where it overlies saidflange.

8. In a building sheet resting thereon and a clip for fastening to saidpurlin, said clip comprising a member including a semi-cylindrical bodysection projecting into a corrugation of the said flange and a aperturesof relatively larger and smaller diameter, respectively, andv driving aself-tapping screw through said aligned apertures into threadedengagement with said body section.

12. In a method of securing a corrugated covering sheet to a flangedsupport, the steps comprising locating a clip comprising a member havmgan upwardly bowed body section resting on and bowed sections inwardlyfrom the outer surface 01 the sheet and in a continuous operation todefine aligned WU-11AM 8. MILES. REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are 01' record in the file of this patent:

tmrrnn STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,271,350 Moon July 2, 19181,029,612 Johnson June 18, 1912

